Mark Bittman's Green Beans with Crisp Shallots Recipe

Updated July 22, 2020

Green beans with almonds is a hall of fame side, right up there with mashed potatoes. But while this is a dish that has the potential to be really wonderful, it rarely is, often veering into blah territory. Leave it to Mark Bittman to show us how to make the best version of this side standard, Green Beans with Crisp Shallots.

Bittman's go-to method for beans with a bit of bite involves briefly boiling the green beans, shocking them in ice water, and finishing them with a quick trip to the sauté pan. Tossed with crispy sweet butter and olive oil fried shallots, and almonds, if you'd like, this is the recipe that'll have your green beans moving out of blah territory and into much tastier place.

What Worked: Mushy green beans aren't too appealing. Bittman's blanch and sauté method ensures beans that hold on to a little snap. And the crisp shallots? Well, they just make everything even better.

What Didn't: All clear, this is the new go-to green bean recipe.

Suggested Tweaks: Take it away, Bittman:

"Boiling and then sautéing vegetables give you more control over doneness. Other vegetables that work well with this treatment: asparagus, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, snow and snap peas, any leafy greens, and turnips. Drain them well and keep them refrigerated until you're ready to use them, or use them right away sautéed in butter or olive oil (as with this recipe), in stir-fries, in salads, or as crudités with dip."

Recipe Details

Mark Bittman's Green Beans with Crisp Shallots Recipe

Active 30 to 40 mins

Total 30 mins

Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

Salt
1 1/2 pounds green beans
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2 medium shallots, thinly sliced
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup sliced almonds, optional

Directions

Bring a stockpot of water to a boil and salt it. Fill a large bowl with cold water and lots of ice cubes and keep a colander handy. To trim the beans, snap or cut off the stem end and any brown spots. Cut them into 2-inch pieces or leave them whole.
Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook until they just start to get tender but remain quite crunchy, 3 to 5 minutes depending on the size of the beans. Drain the beans and immediately plunge them into the ice water. Let them sit for a minute to cool thoroughly, then drain them. (You can prepare the beans up to a day before finishing the dish; cover well and refrigerate.)
Put the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter melts, add the shallots and cook, stirring once or twice, until they’re golden brown and crisp, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer the shallots to a plate lined with paper towels. Leave the fat in the pan.
Add the green beans to the skillet, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are crisp-tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning and serve hot or warm with the shallots on top and almonds sprinkled over if you’re using them.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
137	Calories
7g	Fat
19g	Carbs
4g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	137
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g	9%
Saturated Fat 2g	12%
Cholesterol 8mg	3%
Sodium 319mg	14%
Total Carbohydrate 19g	7%
Dietary Fiber 6g	23%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 19mg	94%
Calcium 88mg	7%
Iron 2mg	8%
Potassium 354mg	8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.